Superfreaks: Kink, Pleasure, and the Pursuit of Happiness

by Arielle Greenberg

A deliciously subversive and endlessly informative celebration of "kinky f*ckery," as told by a connoisseur of kink and fetishism

Neither a how-to guide to getting it on nor a collection of sensational erotica, Superfreaks is instead an empathetic journey into the widely misunderstood world of kink. Lifelong "kinky f*ckery" connoisseur and practitioner Arielle Greenberg draws on her study and teaching of BDSM and fetishism to

-introduce kink's history and trailblazing kinksters like Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, Mollen Hass-Williams, and Tom of Finland

-explain the science behind sexual fetishes

-delve into the psychology behind power exchange

-parse the politics of sexual deviance

Superfreaks is an accessible and interactive X-rated experience that invites the reader to engage their kinky curiosity. Written with folks of all genders and sexual orientations in mind, the book features resources like

-quizzes readers can take with their partners to help assess sexual compatibility

-sidebars with lists of kinky representation in literature, film, music, and more

-an A-to-Z glossary of kinky gear, from collars and floggers to zentai suits and beyond

A Love Beyond challenges and dismantles longstanding myths about kink perpetuated by pop culture phenomena like Fifty Shades of Grey and 365 Days. In doing so, Greenberg names the systemic marginalization kinky people experience and argues that we must build a society that accepts and celebrates sexual diversity of all kinds. The book also affirms the importance of consent and not "yucking someone's yum"-- key concepts inherent to the practice of kink that are essential building blocks for safer, more inclusive sex.

Genres: Nonfiction, Sexuality, History, LGBT, BDSM, Audiobook

280 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Arielle Greenberg is the author of My Kafka Century (Action Books, 2005) and Given (Verse Press, 2002), along with the chapbooks Shake Her (Dusie Kollektiv, edited and made by Jen Hofer, 2009) and Farther Down: Songs from the Allergy Trials (New Michigan Press, 2003). Her poems have appeared in journals including the American Poetry Review, Denver Quarterly, Black Warrior Review, Crazyhorse and American Letters & Commentary, as well as the 2004 and 2005 editions of Best American Poetry and other anthologies. She serves as poetry editor for the journal Black Clock and is one of the founding editors of the journal Court Green, and is the founder and moderator of the poet-moms listserv. She is co-editor, with Rachel Zucker, of the anthology Women Poets on Mentorship: Efforts and Affections (University of Iowa Press, 2008) and, with Lara Glenum, of the poetry anthology Gurlesque (Saturnalia, forthcoming). The recipient of a Saltonstall individual artist's grant and a MacDowell Colony residency, she is an associate professor at Columbia College Chicago and is currently living in Belfast, working on an oral history of the current back–to–the–land movement in Waldo County.

Reviews

[Ioanna Danai · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was actually a very fun and - for me as a, let's say "beginner" in this area - actually informative!

of course these are just the basics, very important basics of course, and this person writes from their point of view which they actually clarified, and if course they cannot write about everything bcuz that would be just information overload but here, for me, they kept it fun, light, very interesting and so you get some interesting insights!

Many of those subjects, like the consent subject, are stuff that I know and discuss with friends and others when we talk about this general subject of not just Kink and fetish but Sex but i also learned more and was fascinated! I absolutely loved the questionnaire with the multiple questions on different subjects that all revolve around "enthusiastic consent", consent in general, limits, likes, kinks, fetishes and wants. I definitely bookmarked it!

i wish there was more about the history but that could be a book alone and as the author said, Kink and fetish in history is difficult to actually pinpoint it without any clear evidence because of course its not just about Kink a fetish, but above whole cultural and consensual level to say the least and that was for me incredibly interesting

All in all a very fun book and i enjoyed it a lot. it made me laugh, it made me curious to make my own little research and definitely taught me some stuff anew

[Katie Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great introduction to all things kink for anyone who is interested! I particularly enjoyed the attention paid to the origins of specific terms, historical examples and the sheer amount of the scope - this book covers the vast majority of kinks, from more standard to completely taboo. I also appreciated the amount of resources offered in the comprehensive lists of books, podcasts, sites and films. Written in a great tone that feels comfortable and informal but also features academic references for further reading. If you’re looking for a comprehensive introduction to this topic I would highly recommend!

[Brie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads contest.

DNF at halfway mark.

This author is insufferable. She writes in a way that is all about herself and her kinks which she eeems far for out there than anyone else's and she does the passive-aggressive millennial sneer at those who she deems "vanilla" and less kinky than her. Dismissing kinky things regular people do not do as "normal" so "vanilla."

She must be a pain in the ass to be around as an out kinky person and I say this as someone with a dominatrix friend who tells me all about her work...in a non-sneering way.

I liked the bits of history but her inserting herself with () comments ruined that.

And "Templeton Rat" and "over indulging people with food." Wow...borderline abusive stuff.

Yeah..done with this book.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I received a free copy of this book via Goodreads’ First Reads giveaway. This was an interesting primer on fetish and kink and its history. I found it interesting as a window into a community and its lifestyles that we don’t often see complete representation of in the media. The author offers plenty of resources for folks who want to follow up with additonal/more specific research of their own.

[Scarlett · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ There's definitely some good (even great) parts in here, particularly the discussions around fetish, and it's definitely a good primer/101 on kink & fetish if you're not overly familiar with this world.

However, the writer does come across as a bit insufferable, it's quite repetitive which makes it a little tiresome to get through (although I did finish it) & although I obviously agree consent is of the upmost importance I don't need to be reminded of this every other page 🥴

[Abby Messina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a really charming, open, and easy-to-access sort of kink encyclopedia. Arielle is a great writer and makes a wonderful point in talking to the reader like a person, rather than an academic, making the kink community feel less othered to the reader. As someone who does not identify as necessarily kinky, this book was both informative and heart-opening. If you're curious about kink culture, or even if you're looking to find your own kinky community, I highly recommend this read.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the better non-fiction kink books i have read. It goes a little indepth into less expored kinks. It is not the SM of kink.

It discuss taboos, attention seeking, role play, delves into the history of kink a little and discuss kink in media entertainment.

It was informative and interesting and that is what I look for in a book about kink.

[Tziona · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the author spent more time on the history, psychology, or facts around kink rather then her own personal experience since this was not a memoir. I found most of the book to be interesting look at the facts and definitions of a topic that’s often not discussed. However it did not feel as academically driven as I would have liked.

[Louisa]

fun, reasonable, thorough

[Lucia Martinez · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF
ehhhhhhh mid, very… annoying, condescending writing

[Oona · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like the constant interruptions of haha after puns or trigger warnings or reminders of consent or privilege.
I enjoyed reading on the author's personal experiences but their takes on the different aspects of ethics were quite superficial and bland

[Cloak88 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book

Review to follow

[Crystal]

DNF @ 32%.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Absolutely diabolical to listen to while in a lab

[Evelyn]

Review subject to change after reading

I just received this book in the mail from a giveaway and I can't wait to read it! I'm really excited for it.

[Larisa]

Oh la la

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, but not great. Definitely felt like talking to someone at a party who was knowledgeable, but also projected a lot.